Signaling system.



B. GHERARDI.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED mam. 1915.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

Inventor Bancmfi Gfzerardi B. GHERARDI.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLlCATION FILED AUG.31,1915.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E iwenior i 2 orneys:

B. GHERARDL SlGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.31. 1915. 1,251 3fi3o Patented. Dec. 25,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

fnvenlfaP fiancm/Z G/zerardi g per 4 M @WM. army? UNTIE 1 BANCROFT GHERAEDI, 0F BAYHEAD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICANTELE- PHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPOBATIGN OF NEW YORK. I

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 25, 119 17.;

Applicatium filed August 31, 1915. Serial No. 48,213.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BANoRorr GHERARDI, residing at Bayhead, in the county of Ocean and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a signaling system for operating circuits, such, for example, as telephone circuits, and its objectis to provide an economical and elficient signaling system.

One important application of the invention is in connection with telephone systems.

It is desirable in present practice, under various conditions, that the two wires forming a metallic telephone circuit be put to several or all of the following uses: (1) as a circuit for telephone conversation; (2) as one side of a phantom telephone circuit; (3) as one or more telegraph circuits; and (4) as a path for operating telephone signals.

It is often very difficult, if not impracticable, to simultaneously employ the two wires of a telephone circuit for all of the above-named purposes or for as many of them as may be desired under the condition existing in a given situation. For example, the usual methods of operating common battery telephone signals interfere with or exclude the use of the wires for telegraphic purposes; and even with magneto signals special signaling means must be employed when the wires are used for telegraph working. This invention provides a system which may be simultaneously and satisfactorily used for all of the above enumerated purposes or for any two or more of said purposes.

In accordance with this invention, one or more operating circuits,with local signaling or translating circuits associated with each end of said operating circuits, are provided with a signaling wire or path having at its two ends switching apparatus preferably operating in synchronism to successively connect the corresponding local signaling or translating circuits to the two ends of the signaling wire. Said signaling wire need not be used exclusively for signaling purposes; for example, in a telephone system it may be composited or otherwise connected on to a telephone circuit. Furthermore the switching apparatus may have any desired number of positions for each operating circuit in order that there may be any desired number of signals or other translating apparatus associated with each of sa'id'circuits.

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is an arrange: ment of circuits and apparatus representing rise.

one embodiment of the invention, and Figs.

2 and 3 placed end to end with Fig. 2 at the left, represent an embodiment of the invenpion in connection with a call circuit toll Referring firstto Fig. 1, X and Y represent two oflices connected by a plurality of telephone circuits 1, 2, there of course being as many of these circuits as trafiicconditions may require. Extending between the two ofiices and common to said plurality of tele phone circuits is a signaling path or wire 3, shown in the drawings as having a ground return. Said signaling wire may, if desired, be arranged in a well known manner for duplex operation, for which purpose there may be provided at the ends of the wire artificial Y balancing lines 4, l and retardation coils 5, 5. Across the ends of each set of retardation coils are bridged the polarized relays b, 6 at offices X and Y, respectively. 7

The two ends of the signaling wire 3 are connected to commutators 7 and 7, respec tively, the commutator 7 having a transmitting section 8 and a receiving section 9, and the commutator 7 having, correspondingly, sections 8 and 9. The commutators, as conventionally shown in the drawing, are preferably similar to the well-known multiplex distributors that are employed in connection with multiplex printing telegraph systems and are, it will be understood, rovided with a synchronizing device (no shown) by means or which synchronism is automatically maintained between the brushes 10, 12

.A associated with thetel'ephone circuit 1 and individual thereto are represented on corresponding transmitting terminals ll, 11 and on corresponding receiving terminals l3 13' of said commutators. Likewise the local signaling circuits B and B individual to the telephone circuit 2 are represented on other sponding parts at the two offices are designated by the same reference numerals, the reference numerals at office X without, and those at oliice Y with, primes. It will also be seen that the local signaling circuits B, B are shown as identical With the local signaling circuits A, A.

The operation of the system shown in Fig. 1 will now be set forth. Assume that the operator at office X desires to establish con nection through oflice Y .over line 1. A plug 1 is inserted in jack 15, thereby connecting battery 16 through supervisory signal lamp 17 and relay 18 to ground. Thereupon said signal lamp is illuminated. Also, the relay 18 i energi'zed and through its contact 19 connects the negative pole of the battery 30 to the contact terminal or segment 11 of the transmitting section 8 of-the commutator 7. Commutators 7 and 7 are in synchronism and therefore while the brushes 10 and 12 of commutator 7 are in contact with terminals 11 and 13, respectively, the brushes 10 and 12 of commutator 7 are in contact with the corresponding terminals 11' and 13', respectively, of the commutator 7. During the time that said contacts obtain, negative current flows from battery 30 through contact 19, segment 11, brush 10 over line 3 and opcrates the polarized relay 6 at ofiice Y, thereby closing a circuit for relay 21' from grounded battery 20 through segment 13',

brush 12 and the tongue 22 of polarized relay. 6 to ground. Relay 21 is thereby energized and a circuit is closed for the line signal lamp 23 as follows: from battery 20, through lamp 23 contact 24 of relay 25", contact 26, closed by the energization of the relay 21', to ground. The resultant illumination of the line signal lamp 23 apprises.

the operator at oflice Y of the fact that the operator at ofiice X is calling over line 1. It

I will be observed that a Series of negative curso sluggish that said series of impulses will maintain the relay in the same position as would a continuous current.

Upon the operator at oilice Y responding by inserting plug 14; in jack 15, a cycle of operations follows which results in the extinguishment of the supervisory signal lamp 17 at oilice X, thereby informing the operator at that office that the operator at oflice 1' has responded. This cycle of operations will now be described. The insertion of'the plug 14 in the jack 15 c oses circuit from battery 16 through supervisory signal lamp 17 and windings 29 and 31 of relay 18 to ground. The resultant operation of relay 18 closes a circuit for relay 25' from battery 20 to ground through contact 27" of relay 18. Theenergization of relay 25' opens, at contact 2i, the circuits of line signal lamp 23 and extinguishes said signal. The operation of relay 18 also connects through its contact 19, thenegative pole of battery 30 to segment 11 of the transmitting section 8" of the commutator 7. At the instant when brush 10 is in contactwith said segment 11,

at which time the brush 12 is in contact with segment 13 of the receiving section 9 of commutator 7, negative current from the battery 30 flows over line 3 and operates polarized relay 6. A circuit for relay 21 is thereby closed from ground through the tongue 22, brush 12, battery 20 to ground. The resultant operation of relay 21 opens its normally closed contact 28 and thereby removes the ground connection from the junction of the two windings 29, 31 of relay 18, thus increasing the resistance in the circuit of supervisory signal lamp 1'. and ground to such an extent that said lamp is dimmed and substantially extinguished. This apprises the calling operator at oiiice X of the fact that the operator at office Y has responded. Incidentally it will be noted that since relay 21' at Y oflice has remained in its operated condition, thereby holding open its contact 28, during this cycle of operations, the supervisory signal lamp 17 at office Y has not received suflicient current to illuminate it.

The signaling operations when it is desired to disconnect after the completion of a telephone conversation is now to be described. Assume that the operator at oilice X disconnects by removing the plug 14: from jack 15. This operation releases relay 18 wlnch had been supplied with current from battery 16 through the sleeve of jack 15. Relay 25 will, however, remain operated so long as the relay 21 is energized, a circuit for said relay 25 heingclosed from battery 20 through relay 25, contacts 33 and 26 to ground. This i continued energization of relay prevents the false operation of the line signal lamp The above described release of relay 18 puts positive battery on segment 11 through the contact 32 of said relay, and, when brush 1U during its revolution comes incontact with said segment, polarized relay 6 at olfice Y is restored to it original position, thereby deenergizing relay 21 by removing the ground from said relay. The deenergization of relay 21 grounds through the contact 28 of sa1d relay, the junction of the two windings 29, 31 of relay 18' and, thereby so decreases the resistance in the circuit of the supervisory signal lamp 17 as to cause said lamp to be illuminated. This apprises the operator at otfice Y that the operator at office X has disconnected. The Y ofiice operator therefore withdraws plug 14 from jack 15, thereby restoring positive battery through contact 32 of relay 18 to segment 11' of commutator 7. This restores polarized relay 6 to its original position, thereby removing ground from relay 21 and causing said relay to become deenergized. This completes the cycle of signaling operation associated with making and disconnecting a circuit over line 1 between ofiices X and Y.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the invention is shown therein in connection with a call circtit toll line 11. For the sake of simplicity only one of such toll lines, with its associated local signaling circuits, is shown, though it will be understood that there may be any suitable number of such toll lines utilizing the common signaling path. In this particular embodiment of the invention the local signaling circuits which are connected with each other over the common signaling wire are adapted to be extended over the subscribers lines with which connection may be made. The common signaling circuit and its associated apparatus are substantially the same as that of Fig. l, and

in said Figs. 2 and 3, also, the local signal ing apparatus consist of relays and lamps such as are usually employed in common battery signaling systems.

The operation of the system shown in Figs. 2 and 8 is as follows: The operator at office WV notifies, over a call wire circuit (not shown), the operator at oflice Z that a connection is desired to subscribers station C. The operator at otlice Z thenassigns trunk circuit 41 therefor, whereupon the operator at ofiicc 'W inserts plug'42 of cord 48 into jack 44. Thercupon, the circuit of battery 45 is completed through relay 46, relay 47, sleeve of plug 42, sleeve of jack 44 and relay 48 to ground. operated since the resistance of relay 48 is so high that insufiicient energizing current flows through relay 47. However, relays 46 and 48 are energized and close their respective contacts 49 and 51.

The closing of contact 51 connects ground to segment 65 of transmitting section 64 of commutator 55. When brush 63 comes in contact with segment 65, the circuit of battery 57 is closed, thereby operating the pole Relay 47 is not thereby changing relay 58 and momentarily impressing positive battery 59 through contact 60 on signaling line 61. A positive battery current impulse flows over signalin line 61 and operates polarized relay 62 at ofiice Z, thereby grounding through contact 111 brush 63 of the receiving section 64 of commutator 55'. When brush 63 makes contact with segment 65, which it does synchronously with the operation of relay 62' by positive current impulse from oflice WV over line 61, relay 66 is operated by current flowing from battery 67 through segment 65 brush 63 and contact 111 to ground. The consequent closing of contacts 68 looks relay 66 by providing a circuit for battery 67 through resistance 69 to ground. The closing of contact 70 of relay 66 provides a circuit for battery 71 through relay 72 to ground thereby operating said relay. The resultant closing of contact 73 of relay 72 completes a circuit from battery 74 through contact 75 of relay 76 and signal lamp 77 to ground, thereby illuminating said lamp. This cycle of operations, initiated by the insertion of plug42 into jack 44 and ending in the illumination of lamp 77 apprises the operator at office Z that the calling operator at otlice W has plugged into the assigned trunk 41.

The second cycle of operations is initiated by the insertion of plug 78 into jack 79, said jack being the switchboard terminal of subscribersst'ation (J. When the sleeve of plug 78 makes contact with the sleeve of jack 79 a circuit is completed from battery 74 through relays 76, 88 and cut-01f relay 80 to ground, thereby operating said relays. The operation of cut-ofl relay 80, opening its contacts 81 and. '82, removes line relay 83, subscribers lamp 84 and battery 85 from operative connection. with the subscribers line, said relay and lamp not being functionally involved in the present operations and functioning only when the subscriber at station C desires to secure telephonic connection through otlice Z. The operation of relay 76 closes contacts 86 and 87 and opens contact 75, thereby extinguishing lamp 77. The operation of relay 88 grounds segment 53 of commutator 54 tl'irough contact 89 of relay 88 and contact 90 of relay 91. When brush 56 makes contact with segment 53, pole changing relay 58 is operated momentarily, and sends out a positive current impulse from battery 59 through contact 60 over line 61, and operates polarized relay 62, thus grounding brush 56 of commutator 54 which brush is at that time in contact with segment 53. A circuit is thereby established from battery 67 to ground through relay 66, and said relay is thereby operated. The closing of contact 70 shunts relay 48 with resistance 92, thereby increasing the current through relay 47 and operating it. The opsequence contact 50 eration of relay 47 closes a circuit through contact 50 and lamp 53 for battery 52 and said lamp is illuminated. This cycle of operations, ending in the illumination of lamp 53, apprises the operator at office W that trunk 41 has been connected to the subscribers line terminating in the desired station C.

The third cycle of operations is concerned with the ringing of the signal bell at subscribers station C. The operator at otlice WV manually operates ringing key 93, thereby impressing an alternating ringing vol age on line 41 and operating relay 94. The operation of relay 94 grounds segment 95 of commutator 64. "When brush 63 makes contact with segment 95, pole changing relay 58 is momentarily operated by current from battery 57 through brush 63 segment 95 and the contact of relay 94. This momentary operation of pole changing relay 58 impresses battery 59 through contact 60 on line 61 and a positive current impulse is sent out over said line. This current impulse momentarily operates polarized relay 62 and grounds through contact 111 brush 63 of commutator 64 which is at that time in con tact with segment 95. A circuit is thereby established from battery 96 through relay 97 segment 95, brush 63 to ground, and said relay 97 is operated. The operation of relay 97v closes contacts 98 and 99. The closing of contact 98 locks said relay in its operated position through resistance 100. The above-mentioned closing of contact 99 grounds battery 101 through relay 102, thereby operating relay 102. The operation of said relay impresses ringing current through contacts 103 and 104 on subscribers line and rings the bell at subscribers station 0. This ringing persists as long as relay 94, at office W, is operated. The subscriber at station C responds by removing the receiver 105 from the hook, thereby closing contacts 106 and 107 in the usual mam ner. The closing of contacts 106 and 107 establishes a direct current path for battery 108 which operates relay 91 opening contact 90. lVith contact 90 open pole changing relay 58 remains unoperated when brush 56 makes contact with segment 53, and, therefore, polarized relay 62 is left in its normal position when brush 56 is in contact with segment 53. Relay 66 is therefore delinergized when brush 56 comes in contact with segment o3, and contacts 68 and 70 are thereby opened. The opening of contact 70 removes the shunt around relay 48 and in conof relay 47 is opened and lamp is extinguished. This apprises the operator at ollice \V of the fact that the subscriber at station C has responded.

The signaling operations associated with the disconnection of the communicating circuit will now be described. Upon the subscriber at station C hanging up his receiver at the completion of the telephonic conversation, contacts 106 and 107 are opened, and the circuit of battery 108 is thereby opened and relay 91 deenergized. The consequent closing of contact 90 of relay 91 grounds segment 53 through contact 90 and contact 89. When brush 56 makes contact with segment 53', the pole changing relay 58' is energized from its associated battery 57 through grounded segment 53'. Positive battery 59 is thereby impressed on line 61 through contact 60, sending a positive current impulse over said line and operating the polarized relay 62 at office W. Brush 56'is thereby grounded at the instant it is in contact with segment 53 and relay 66 is thereby energized from battery 67. The closing of contact 68 of relay 66 closes a locking circuit for said relay through the resistance 69. The closing of contact 70 of relay 66 shunts the resistance 92 around relay 48 and operates relay 47, thereby illuminating lamp The operator at oilice W is apprised by the illumination of said lamp that the subscriber at station C has disconnected and responds by disconnecting plug 42 from jack 44. This, by removing the ground connection from the sleeve of plug 42, deenergizes relays 46 and 47 and extinguishes lamp 53. It further deenergizes relay 48 and thereby, by the opening of conta'cf51, removes ground from segment 65. Asa result, pole changing relay 58 is not operated when brush 63 makes contact with segment 65; and, therefore, at the instant when brush 63 is in contact with segment 65 at oflice Z battery 109 is impressed through contact 110' on segment 65, thereby deenergizing relay 66'. The opening of contact 70 deenergizes relay 72 opening contact 73 and closing contact 82. The closing of contact 82 establishes a circuit from battery 74 through contacts 87 and 82 and signal lamp 77 to ground, thereby illuminating said lamp and apprising the operator at ofiice Z of the fact that the operator at ofiice \V has-disconnected. The operator at office Z therefore disconnects plug 78 from jack 79 and thereby restores all relays to normal position. This completes the cycle of signaling operations.

The invention is not limited to the specific.

arrangements herein set forth, since it IS capable of numerous other embodiments which come within the scope of the a ppended claims.

"What is claimed is:

1. The combination of an operating circuit extending between two points, a conductive path distinct from but assigned to said circuit also extending between said points, a

plurality of local translating circuits individual to said operating circuit at said points, and switching apparatus at the opposite ends of said conductive path for successively connecting COIIBt ponding local translating circuits to the two ends of said conductive path.

2. The combination of a plurality of operating circuits extending between two points, a conductive path associated with said operating circuits, a plurality of local translating circuits individual to said operating circuits, and switching apparatus operating at the opposite ends of said conductive path for successively connecting corresponding local translating circuits to the two ends or said conductive path.

3. In a telephone system, the combination of a telephone circuit extending between two oliices; a plurality of local translating cir cuits individual to'said telephone circuit at each of said ofiices, said local translating circuits at one office cor-responding, respectively, to said local translating circuits at the other ofiice; a conductive path extending betweensaid oihces; and switching apparatus at the opposite ends of said conductive path for successively connecting corresponding local translating circuits to the two ends of said conductive path.

4:. In a telephone system, the combination of a plurality of telephone circuits extending between two oflices; a conductivepath associated with said telephone circuits; a

plurality of local translating circuits individual to said telephone circuits at each of said ofiices; and switching apparatus at the opposite ends of said conductive path for successively connecting corresponding local translating circuits to the two ends of said conductive path.

5. In a telephone system, the combination of a plurality of telephone circuits extending between two offices; a common signaling path for said telephone circuits; a local signaling circuit individual to each of said telephone circuits at each of said oihces; and switching apparatus at each of said offices for successively connecting said local signaling circuits to said common signaling path.

6. In a telephone system, the combination of a plurality of telephone circuits extending between two ofiices; a signaling path common to said telephone circuits; local signaling circuits at each of said offices individual to each of said telephone circuits; and automatic means operating to connect corrc" spending local signaling circuits with each other over said common signaling path.

7. In a telephone system, the combination of a plurality of telephone circuits; a signaling path common to said telephone circuits; switching apparatus at each end of said sig naling path, said switching apparatus haviing switch arms connected to the ends of said signaling path and having contact terminals with which said arms successively connect, and a plurality of local signaling circuits for each end of each of said telephone circuits and individual thereto, the

local signaling circuits of each telephone circuit being connected to corresponding contact terminals of said switching apparatus at the two ends of said common signaling path.

8. In a telephone system, the'combination of a plurality of telephone circuits, a signaling path common to said telephone circuits, local signaling circuits for each end of each of said telephone circuits and 1ndividual thereto, switching apparatus at each end of said signaling path for successively connecting corresponding local signaling circuits to the ends of said common signaling path, subscribers lines adapted to be connected to said telephone circuits, and means by which the connected signaling circuits may be extended over said subscribers lines.

9. In a telephone system, the combination of a plurality of telephone circuits extending between two offices; a signaling path,

likewise extending between said oilices, com

mon to said telephone circuits; local signaling c1rcu1ts, individual -to said telephone circuits, at each of said ofiices; switching apparatus at each of said olfices operating nected to said telephone circuits; and means by which the local signaling circuits gt a telephone circuitare extended over a subscribers line when the latter is connected to the telephone circuit.

10. In a telephone system, the combination of a telephone circuit extending between two offices; a signaling path likewise extending between said oflices; local signaling circuits for each end of said telephone circuit and individual thereto; switching apparatus at each end of said signaling path for connecting said local signaling circuits .to the ends of said signaling path; subscribers lines adapted to be connected to said telephone circuit; and means by which one of said local signaling circuits may be extended over a subscribers line when the latter is connected to said telephone circuit.

11. In a telephone system, the combination of a plurality of telephone circuits extending between two ofiices, a signaling path common to said telephone circuits, local signaling circuits at each of said offices associated with said telephone circuits, switching apparatus at each end of said signaling path for suc; cessi-vely connecting corresponding local signaling circuits to the ends of said common signaling path, switching mechanism at said ofiices associated with said telephone circuits, and means under the control of said switching mechanisms for signaling over said common signaling path and said local signaling circuits.

12. In a telephone system, the combination of a plurality of telephone circuits extending between two oliices, a signaling path common to said telephone circuits, local signaling circuits at each of said oliices associated with said telephone circuits, switching apparatus at each end of said signaling patl' "or successively connecting corresponding local signaling circuits to the ends of said common signaling path, and electromagnetic switching mechanisms associated with said telephone circuits and with said local signaling circuits for signaling over said common path and said local signaling circuits,

13. In a telephone system, the combination of a plurality of trunk telephone circuits extending between two oiilces, local telephone circuits connecting subscribers stations with said trunk telephone circuits, a signaling path common to said local telephone circuits, local signaling ci cuits at each of said otiices associated with said 'trunk telephone circuits, switching apparatus operating at each end of said signaling path for successively connecting corresponding local signaling circuits to the ends of said cominon signaling path, and means associated with said trunk telephone circuits and said local signaling circuits for changing the condition existing on local telephone circuits which may be connected with said trunk telephone circuits.

A. In a telephone system, the combination or a plurality of trunk tele hone circuits extending between two 0 ces, local telephone circuits connecting subscribers stations with the said trunk telephone circuits, a signaling path common to said trunk telephone circuits, local signaling circuits at each of said otiices associated with said trunk telephone circuits, switching apparatus operating at each end of said signaling path for SUCCGSSlVQlY connecting corresponding local signaling circuits to the ends of said common signaling path, and means associated with said trunk telephone circuits and said local signaling circuits for controlling the indication of the condition existing on the menses local telephone circuits which may be connected with the said trunk telephone circuits.

15. In a telephone system, a telephone circuit extending between two offices, a signaling path distinct from, but assigned to said telephone circuit, local signaling circuits individual to said telephone circuit at each office, switching apparatus, operating to connect the local signaling circuits with said path, subscribers stations, means to connect said telephone circuit with said subscribers stations, and means operative over said signaling path, to apply signaling current over the subscribers line when connected to said telephone circuit.

16. The combination ofan operating circuit extending between two points, a. signaling path between said points, a plurality of local signaling circuits individual to said operating circuit at said points, relays associated with the ends of said signaling path, and switching apparatus at the opposite ends of said signaling path for successively connecting corresponding local signaling cir cuits to said relays.

17. In a telephone system, the combination of a trunk circuit extending between two offices; a signaling path likewise extending between said ofiices; local signaling circuits for each end of said trunk circuit and individual thereto; switching apparatus at each end of said signaling path for connecting said local signaling circuits to the ends of said signaling path; extensions adapted to be connected to said trunk; and means by which one of said local signaling circuits may be extended overan extension when the latter is connected to said trunk.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses, this 27th day of August 1915.

BANGR-OFT oHERARDi.

Witnesses:

Gr. E. FOLK, K. W. WATERSON. 

